Sun Safety
At this time of the year,
most people are enjoying safe exposure
to the sun. Children
especially, need to be protected from the harmful
rays as well as enjoying a safe amount of sunshine. Questions
about sun safety are very common in the summer months and the
numbers of parents that ask our advice about sun safety in our
clinics are increasing. Therefore, we
have provided practitioners with sun safety tips to hand out at
their clinics.
10 major principles of keeping
your baby safe in the sun
BABIES LESS THAN 6 MONTHS SHOULD NEVER
BE EXPOSED TO SUN!
Never leave your baby in the sun
-
Babies’
burn faster than children or adults.
-
Use an umbrella, beach tent, the shade of a
tree.
-
Remember they can burn
in the shade from reflected light.
-
Loose-fitting
clothing keeps them cool.
-
Put children in long
sleeves.
-
Tightly woven fabrics and dark
colours absorb more UV.
-
A wet, white T-shirt
lets through nearly as much sun as no
shirt.
-
At the beach, dress them in sun-protective
swimsuits or (even better) wetsuits. 
Put sunscreen on children, and
keep putting it on
-
Apply
sunscreen half an hour before
they get outside.
-
Don't wait till it's getting hot. In the cool
air of 10am the sun burns as fiercely
as at 2pm.
-
Put more on after
they've been swimming - whether or not it says
it's waterproof.
-
Apply at least
every two hours - so if they're out all day,
apply it four times minimum.
-
Use a factor 15
or higher sunscreen, and a broad spectrum type.
-
Apply it generously.
A rough guide is a teaspoon for a baby, a dessert spoon for
a child.
Put sunglasses on children
Remember, most damage occurs during
normal day-to-day activities
-
It's not just the beach you need to worry about.
-
Cloudy days are
dangerous if you take no precautions - a lot
of UV still gets through cloud.
-
Watch out for cool
winds or water - they can make you think burning
isn't happening.
Get kids into good
habits
-
Plan trips outdoors that avoid
10am to 2pm peak intensity time.
-
Make sure there
will be shade if you're going out.
-
Have picnics in the shade. Play in the shade.
-
Enjoy the woods!
as well as the beach
-
Make dressing in hats
and long sleeves standard practice.
-
Give children regular
drinks to keep them hydrated and cool.
Health Visitor
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